Abstract
Abstract At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the Swiss formed the most important and numerous foreign merchant community in Lyon. As a result of centuries-old treaties, Swiss nationals benefited from several privileges in France. However, these privileges were increasingly threatened by French protectionist policies. In order to defend their rights, Swiss merchants adopted various strategies. In this article, the focus is on a particular form of lobbying: dinners and parties. The merchants themselves documented such events in their own writings. In general terms these sources offer an original research perspective on early modern urban food, drinking and ceremonial culture. More specifically, this article reveals not only the different facets of a foreign community’s agency in a protectionist context, but it also contributes to a better understanding of the internal relations within this merchant community, such as between its Protestant and Catholic members.
Published Version
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